Spring Updates

Reba Rice, Ex Dir and Tina Dahlke, DDS at The Lakes CHC Dental Center in Ashland, WI

Lake Superior Community Health Center

Route 13 along Lake Superior

Lake Superior in Bayfield County

Reba Rice, Dir, Tina Dahlke, DDS at The Lakes CHC dental center

Dental staff at lunch

Remodeling crew was busy!

New equipment

First of 4 future operatories

Lake Superior Community Health Center in Superior, WI

Though spring is officially here, our Wisconsin weather is a mix of snow and rain, with snow drops and crocuses bravely trying to bloom through the snow! It was raining, but there were patches of snow in the woods when I drove from Superior to Ashland last week to visit two Community Health Centers.  My first rainy stop was in Superior at Lake Superior Community Health Center where I had a quick tour and meeting with Dr. Eric Elmquist.  The clinic was busy with all areas filled with patients.

Next stop was the new clinic in Ashland, which is the dental site for the Lakes Community Health Center in Iron River.  The dental clinic on Main Street in Ashland is a very welcome addition to the area – many partners in Bayfield County worked to open the clinic quickly.  Remodeling is still underway but the staff is energized, and the clinic is open and seeing patients. Tina Dahlke, DDS, moved from rural Alaska to be the start-up dentist, and the staff was recruited from Ashland, Eau Claire, and Minnesota. Tina is originally from Wisconsin, and was happy to return, especially to a location near Lake Superior. Reba Rice is Executive Director of both clinic locations in Iron River and Ashland. Here are some rainy photos of my trip!

We’ve also learned of 2 more placements for our program, both at the Kenosha CHC, making 12 placements for this fiscal year.  Dentists continue to contact us about clinic openings, both 2009 grads and in-practice dentists seeking part time work.